KAMPALA. Atleast 66 people are behind bars over illegal entry into Uganda in a night operation, as the country intensifies enforcement against foreigners working without valid documentation.
The operation conducted by immigration enforcement team in Jinja City in the country eastern region, also found that 77 other immigrants were compliant with Uganda’s immigration laws, according to officials in the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control
“Our enforcement team operating in Jinja City managed to arrest 66 irregular immigrants. We also found that 77 of the other immigrants we inspected were compliant,” Mr Simon Mundeyi, spokesperson of the Internal Affairs ministry, said after the operation.
The arrested individuals include nationals from India, Nepal, China and Pakistan, according to immigration authorities.
Mr Mundeyi said the enforcement exercise is part of a broader nationwide crackdown targeting illegal migrant labour and non-compliance with immigration procedures
“These operations will continue. We are heading to eastern Uganda and then another team will proceed to western Uganda. We call upon employers and employees to regularise their stay in the country,” he said.
Internal Affairs ministry urged foreign nationals working in Uganda to comply with the law by acquiring valid work permits and legal documentation.
“We advise foreign nationals who are working here to comply with immigration laws. Those in need of work permits, our offices are open, and we call upon their employers or the employees themselves to ensure they apply for these immigration facilities,” Mr Mundeyi added.
He commended those who had complied with the law, noting that a significant number of those inspected possessed the required documents.
“We did find that 77 others were compliant. They had the requisite immigration facilities and we commend them,” he said.
The crackdown comes amid growing concern among officials that some foreign nationals, particularly those without proper documentation, are taking up jobs that could otherwise be done by Ugandans, especially in retail trade and the informal sector.
Authorities warn that this trend risks exacerbating unemployment, particularly among young people who already face limited job opportunities in the formal sector.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), Uganda’s unemployment rate stands at about 9 per cent, with youth unemployment estimated at over 13 percent, figures that underscore the pressure on the labour market.
The government say failure by some employers to comply with immigration procedures has contributed to the rise of irregular migrant labour, undermining opportunities for local workers and distorting fair competition in business.
Mr Mundeyi cautioned employers against hiring undocumented immigrants, warning that such practices attract penalties under the law.
“Employers must take responsibility to ensure that the people they hire are properly documented. Failure to comply with immigration laws will attract the necessary legal action,” he said.
The Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control has in recent months stepped up enforcement operations across the country as part of efforts to regulate the labour market and ensure that all foreign nationals working in Uganda are legally documented.
Immigration say the ongoing operations are not only meant to enforce the law but also to safeguard employment opportunities for Ugandans while promoting orderly and legal migration.
